Training apparatus



E. WILLIM'ANN.

TRAINING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN-5,1922.

Eamntad NOV. 28, 1922 Patented Nev. 28, i922.

EDWIN WILLIIVIANN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA. I

TRAINING APPARATUS.

Application filed January 5, 1922.

T 0 all/107mm it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN VILLIMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Training Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for training athletes, particularly those desiring to become proficient in the playing of football.

The objects of the invention are to provide a training apparatus affording a passage for a player which is obstructed by yieldable retarding members representing opposing players in the line of the opposing team, enabling the player to be directed against said opposing players to eiiectlvely block the same or to formtheoretical openings in'their line.

A further object is to provide a member associated with the retarding devices which controls the head room aflorded in said passage, and which necessitates the player stooping or getting down low in bucking the theoretical line represented by the training apparatus.

A further object is to render the retarding .members and head plate vertically adjustable which adapts the training apparatus to be used by players of various heights.

With the above mentioned and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the preferred embodiment of the in vention illustrated in the drawings Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my improved training apparatus,

Figure 2 is a side view,

Figure 3 is a broken top plan view, and

Figure 4 is a view in detail of the mounting for the head plate taken on line 4t-4L Figure 3.

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numerals Serial No. 527,180.

1 indicate parallel spaced vertically disposed uprights or standards providing between them a passage or runway A. Adjacent their upper ends, the uprights are formed with the pin receiving openings 2 extending transversely therethrough, which are adapted for receiving retaining pins 3, on which rest suitable tubular sleeves A, one on each upright. The sleeves are vertically adjustable on their respective uprights and are mounted for axial rotation about the same, and each sleeve supports a retarding member 5, which members extend transversely across the passage A and retard the free passage of the player therethrough, and are disposed with their free ends 6 in relatively close co-operating relation. Retarding members are illustrated in the form of gates, and the bottom edges thereof are elevated a slight distance from the ground or turf line 7, said intervening spaces being partially occupied by a heavy fabric or canvas member 8, one depending from each retarding member and lying adjacent each upright 1 to guide the player through the clear portion of the passage A and directing him away from the uprights 1. Corresponding inner faces of the retarding members 5 are heavily padded, as at 9 to prevent injury to the player, and said members are normally maintained in a position transversely of the passage A, by the tension springs 10, or other means, the tension of which is adapted to be varied by an adjusting member 11, said springs co-operating with radial arms 12 carried by the sleeves 4 in advance of the uprights l. The springs 10 it will be observed retard the pivotal movement of the members 5 in one direction interfering with the free passage of the player through the passage A when it is required that he operate said members 5, and the springs 10 return said members 5 to their normal position after being operated. To compel the player to stoop low in passing through the passage A, a head plate 13 is disposed transversely between the uprights 1 in a horizontal plane, and is inclined downwardly in the direction of the travel of the player between said uprights, as indicated in Figure 2. The under side of said plate is padded as at 14 to protect the player from injury, and said plate is supported at one end by a link 1% pivotally connected with an eye upwardly disposed from a transverse rod 16 secured at its ends in tubular collars 17, one vertically adjustable on each upright 1 above the sleeves L. Retaining pins 18 maintain the collars in their adjusted position.

From the opposite end of the head plate 13 extends a second link 18 passing through a guide opening in said rod 16 and mounting a spring 19 for yieldably retaining the lower end of said head plate 13 in slight spaced relation above the upper surface of the retarding members 5. The spring 19 permits the lower end of the head plate 13 to yield should it bestruck from beneath by the body of the player in passing through thepassage A.

It will be'observed that my present trainingapparatus consisting of the two retardingmembers represents two linemen of an opposing team, and enables the player on the offensive or defensive under instructions from his-coach to attack the linemen in such manner as directed to dispose of them to afl'ord a clear opening through the passage A, which is understood to be one of the objects of the game. The head plate also affords a member which compels the player when'passing through the passage A to get low so-that his efforts and strength in dis posing-of the-opposing linemen will he most effective.

Having thus'described my invention what I claim as'new and desire to secure by Let-- ters Patent of the United States is 1. A-training apparatus comprising a pair of 'spaceduprights forming a passage therebetween, a pair ofretarding members padded onone-face and extending between said uprights 'andonehinged to swing on a vertical axis relatively to each upright with their free edges in co-operating relation, means affording a vertical adjustment for said retarding members on said uprights, andmeans for retarding the pivotal movement of said retarding-means in one direction and for returning said retarding members to their normal position.

2. A training apparatus comprising a pair of spaced uprights forming a passage therebetween, a pair of retarding members padded on'one face and extending between said uprights and one hinged to swing on a vertical axis relatively to each upright with their free edges in (Jo-operating relation, means for'retarding the pivotal movement of said retarding members in one direction and for returning said retarding members to their normalposition, and a head plate disposed transversely between the uprights and inclined downwardly toward the direction of opening of said retarding members.

A training apparatus. comprising a pair of spaced uprights forn'iing a passage therebetween, a pair of retarding members padded on one face and extending between said uprights and one hinged to swing on a vertical axis relatively to each upright with their free edges in co-operating relation, means for retarding the pivotal movement of said retarding members in one direction and for returning said retarding members to their normal position, and ahead plate disposed transversely between the uprights, said plate being pivotally supported at one end and downwardly inclined toward the direction of opening of said retarding members, and means for yieldably retaining said plate adjacent to said retarding members.

at. retraining apparatus comprising a pair of spaceduprights forming a passage therebetween, a pair of retarding members padded on one face andextending betwee'n'said uprights and one hinged to'swing on'a vertical axis relatively to each upright with their tree edges in co-operating relation, means for retarding the pivotal movement of said retarding'members in one'direction and for returning said retarding members to their normal position, and a head plate disposed transversely between the uprights, said plate being pivotally supported at one end and downwardly inclined toward the direction of opening of said retarding members, and means for yieldably retaining said plateadjacent to said retarding members, said retarding members and head'plate being'disposed vertically of said uprights.

5. A training apparatus comprising a pair of spaced uprights forming a passage therebetween, a pair of retarding memberspadded on one face and extendingbetween s'aid'uprights and one hinged'to swing on'a vertical axis relatively to each upright with their free edges in co-operating relation, means for retarding the pivotal movement of said retarding members in one direction and for returning said retarding members to their normal position and ahead plate disposed transversely between the'uprights, said-plate being pivotally supported at one end and downwardly inclined toward the direction of opening of said retarding-members, and means for yieldably retaining said plate adjacent to said retarding members, said retarding members and head plate being adjustable vertically on said uprights independently of each other.

7 6. A training apparatus comprising a pair of spaced uprights forming a passage therebet-ween and a yieldable means extending horizontally between the same for retarding travel through said passage, said means adapted for separation on the application of force to one face thereof.

7. A training apparatus comprising aipair of spaced uprights forming apassage therebetween, a yieldable means extending between the same for retarding travel through said passage, and a. yieldable head member disposed between said uprights for'limiting the head room afforded by said passage.

8. A training apparatus for the described purpose comprising a pair of spaced uprights forming between them a passage a. sleeve slidably mounted on each upright and mounted for axial movement about the same, a pair of retarding members extending across the passage between said uprights and one carried by each sleeve, yieldable means for retarding the separation of said retarding members and for normally retaining the same with their free ends lying adjacent to each other a collar adjustable vertically on each upright above each sleeve, a bar connecting on said collars, a head plate disposed transversely between said uprights overlying said passage above said retarding members, and means associated with said bar and connected with said head plate for yieldably mounting the same, one face of said retarding members and the under side of said head plate being provided with a padded facing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EDWIN VVILLIMANN. 

